An interesting genetic study has unlocked key variations in the West African honey bee (Apis mellifera adansonii), shedding light on its molecular diversity across urban and rural environments in Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria.
The study, titled Unlocking the Genetic Blueprint of Nigerian Honey Bees: A Path to Conservation and Food Security, led by Professor Oluyinka Ajibola Iyiola of the Cell Biology and Genetics Unit in the Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, in collaboration with other researchers, provides unprecedented insights into the genetic structure of Nigerian honey bees—an ecological keystone species vital for food security, biodiversity, and economic stability.
The Urgency of Genetic Research in Honey Bees
Honey bees are the unsung heroes of global agriculture, responsible for pollinating more than one-third of the world’s food crops. Their vital roles in sustaining ecosystems and boosting agricultural yields make them irreplaceable, yet they face an existential threat.
Climate change, habitat destruction, pesticide exposure, and emerging pathogens pose serious dangers to honey bee survival and flourishing populations worldwide. Understanding their genetic diversity is not just a scientific pursuit but a necessity for conservation.
“Our research underscores the power of genetics and genomics in safeguarding honey bees and other important pollinators. Undoubtedly, honey bees are the backbone of sustainable food production, and their genetic diversity is key to their resilience against unpredictable environmental changes,” the researchers emphasised.
Deciphering Genetic Diversity in Nigerian Honey Bees
To investigate the genetic architecture of Apis mellifera adansonii, the research team employed Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, an advanced molecular technique used to assess genetic variation.
RAPD is a dominant marker widely used in genetic diversity studies across different organisms. It detects a large number of loci and does not require prior knowledge of the organism’s DNA sequence.
Honey bee samples were carefully collected across six strategic locations in Kwara State, Nigeria—three rural and three urban areas—namely Tanke, Agbede (Ilorin South), Adewole, Osin Aremu (Ilorin West), and Idofin and Amoyo (Ifelodun). This allowed the researchers to investigate genetic variations among the sampled Apis mellifera adansonii populations.
A total of 30 honey bee colonies were sampled, with genomic DNA analysed using five high-resolution RAPD primers. The findings were both informative and eye-opening:
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Low genetic diversity was detected, signalling a possible genetic bottleneck that could limit adaptability to environmental stressors.
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Genetic similarities between rural and urban bee populations suggest uninterrupted gene flow, likely due to the bees’ ability to travel vast distances in search of floral resources.
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66% of genetic variation was observed within populations, while only 34% was found between populations, reinforcing the idea that Nigerian honey bees share a common ancestral lineage.
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Urban honey bee populations exhibited the lowest levels of genetic polymorphism, indicating that habitat fragmentation and pesticide exposure may be eroding their genetic resilience.
The Real-World Impact of Honey Bee Genetics
The implications of this research are monumental. If genetic diversity continues to decline, Nigerian honey bees could become more susceptible to diseases, climate-induced stress, and reduced reproductive success—a scenario that could spell disaster for Nigeria’s agricultural sector and food production systems.
1. Safeguarding Pollination
The genetic diversity of honey bees directly impacts pollination efficiency. At least one-third of the world’s food crops depend directly or indirectly on honey bee pollination. Crops such as mangoes, cocoa, cashews, and citrus fruits rely heavily on pollinators for fruit and seed production. Protecting honey bee populations through genetic monitoring and conservation programmes is essential for Nigeria’s agricultural economy and global food security. The worldwide economic value of insect pollination is estimated at over US$190 billion per year.
Despite their essential roles, pollinating insects, including honey bees, have experienced significant declines worldwide.
2. Developing Disease-Resistant Bee Strains
This study lays the groundwork for selective breeding programmes aimed at enhancing disease resistance in honey bee populations. With the rising threat of colony collapse disorder and viral infections, identifying and propagating genetically resilient bee colonies could revolutionise apiculture in Africa.
3. Urban Beekeeping and Sustainable Agriculture
The discovery of low genetic diversity in urban honey bee populations raises critical concerns about city-based beekeeping. Urban planners, policymakers, and farmers must prioritise green spaces, pesticide-free zones, and biodiversity corridors to sustain genetically robust bee populations in urban centres.
The Future of Honey Bee Conservation
This research, published in the Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Medicine, an official journal of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Baghdad, Iraq, is available online at . It provides crucial insights into the molecular basis of diversity among West African honey bees.
The study benefitted from facilities provided by the Cell Biology and Genetics Unit of the Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, along with research collaborators committed to conservation genetics in Nigeria and across the African continent.
Immediate action is required to study the negative impact of insecticides, herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides commonly used in agriculture. These chemicals, combined with other environmental factors, may contribute to the decline of honey bees and other vital insect pollinators.
Moving forward, the researchers plan to expand the scope of this study using a genomic approach. Genomic resources for honey bees will generate deeper insights into molecular, biochemical, and physiological responses to environmental stressors.
“If we fail to act now, we risk losing a species that sustains life as we know it,” the researchers warned. By harnessing the power of genomics, conservation efforts, and sustainable agricultural practices, honey bee populations can continue to thrive, pollinate, and support food production for generations to come.
Despite the success of the study, Professor O. A. Iyiola and his research team acknowledged the challenges they faced. “One of the biggest challenges we encountered in this study was obtaining adequate honey bee samples in rural areas,” Iyiola said.
To overcome this challenge, the team aims to extend the sampling period to cover both the rainy and dry seasons while increasing sample locations across all ecological zones in Nigeria. This can be achieved through carefully planned field collections and collaborations with local stakeholders.
There is an urgent need for an integrated conservation approach to preserve Apis mellifera and prevent further genetic diversity loss and colony collapse. Findings from this study provide baseline information for future genetic diversity and conservation research on honey bees in Nigeria.
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